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HRH Princess Soamsawalee lights up special evening
for Thailand Friends head
Group picture with Her Royal
Highness Princess Soamsawalee.
Elfi Seitz
The chairman of German human rights group Thailandfreunde (Thailand Friends)
has been awarded the European “Tolerance Award” from the European Union.
Dirk Weeber-Arayatumsopon, a freelance writer and contributor to the
Chiang Mai Mail and Pattaya Blatt, received the award from EU
Cultural Forum President Dieter Topp at a Nov. 27 Pantip Court charity fund
raiser attended by HRH Princess Soamsawalee, politicians and other
dignitaries.
HRH the Princess was the guest of honor at the exhibit of precious Thai
materials aimed at raising money for the prevention of AIDS transmission
from mothers to children.
European Parliament member Thomas Mann of the EVP-ED faction sent a virtual
congratulations to Weeber-Arayatumsopon, whom he has known for many years.
“Dirk was once my successor at the executive committee of the “Young
Workforce” and already had become involved helping minorities. He was
engaged in helping people with social problems and tried to build bridges.
He was successful with many social and cultural projects and gave people in
Thailand new hope,” he said.
He mentioned also that Weeber-Arayatumsopon takes care of the blind, sick
and HIV-infected and talks directly to the people.
Topp also said he was pleased to present the award to the Thailand Friends
founder. “I am proud of people like Dirk,” he said. “I hope he still can
carry on for many years with what he is doing.”
Dirk Weeber-Arayatumsopon
receives the award from Promsap Boonak and Dieter Topp. Far left is Palasha
Kosayothin and next to her is Wuttipong Arayatumsopon. Dirk said during his
speech, “All what I am doing comes from my heart.”
Weeber-Arayatumsopon says he does what he does from his
heart. “I raise sponsorships or organize welfare events because I feel that
we have to save children from pedophiles and prostitution, give hope to the
disabled and help patients with my work as a podiatrist.” He added that he
is happy to be welcome in his second home, Thailand, as a friend and not as
a foreigner.
After HRH the Princess arrived, she showed great interest in
Weeber-Arayatumsopon’s collection of old newspapers and books, which he and
partner Wuttipong Arayatumsopon showcased during the exhibition.
Topp presented the princess with an antique bronze Dali medal and
Weeber-Arayatumsopon gave her an antique Hummel figurine from 1948 and a
French newspaper from 1893.
A beautiful fashion show, organized and modeled by members of the Siam
Technical College delighted the audience and the princess who showed her
gratitude with a lot of applause. Famous singer Kru Aun sang Thai ballads
and dancers showed off their talents.
HRH the Princess capped the evening by presenting the Arayatumsopons, Top
and Pantip Court owner Pornsawan Panicheeva with big plaques of honor as
well as rewarding guests who made donations to her cause with pins bearing
her insignia. She then resigned to a private room for a dinner with only 25
people, including the guests of honor that evening.
Dirk’s friends gather for a
group picture.
Balloon Festival lifts off with
unexpected start, colorful events
U.S. balloonist Michael
Cacavale left golfers confused and amused when his Red Cow craft missed its
landing mark by 300 meters, touching down on the 18th hole at Siam Country
Club.
Theerarak Suthatiwong
The Pattaya International Balloon Festival 2009 got off to a
blustery start when wind gusts blew several aerialists off their landing
spots, but overall the festival lifted off in colorful style with lots of
excitement for the nearly 100,000 people who attended over the four days.
 Suwanthep
“Tony” Malhotra (left) interviews Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome for Pattaya Mail
on TV.
On the first day, some balloons nearly hit trees on Pra Mountain and U.S.
balloonist Michael Cacavale left golfers confused and amused when his Red
Cow craft missed its landing mark by 300 meters, touching down on the 18th
hole of Siam Country Club.
Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome kicked off the Dec. 10-13 event at
Thammasat University’s Pattaya campus, sponsored by the city and Chonburi
governments, cable TV’s Mongkol Channel, Thailand’s Sport Flying Association
and the Tourism Authority of Thailand, noting the annual fiesta is the
country’s largest air-sport event.
More than 40 balloons from 32 countries took part with balloonists vying for
the Favorite Balloon of the Year competition, as well as the Night Glow show
and Light and Sound Model Balloon performance from Germany.
 Contestants
in the Miss Balloon 2009 beauty contest certainly increase the pulchritude
at the proceedings.
Large crowds attended daily to see balloonists prepare their craft shaped as
cakes, elephants and other items. It’s an international fair with entrants
from many countries, including France, the United Kingdom, Netherlands,
Switzerland, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Belgium and Germany.
Mongkok’s Arun Pawilai noted the festival also featured a Fun Park for kids
and a Miss Balloon 2009 contest whose winner received 400,000 baht and a
role in a Sahamongkol film and TV show he called the “Balloon Night Glow”
show, in which illuminated balloons float in time with music by Thai bands
such as Peacemaker, ETC, Calories Blah Blah and Ford Sobchai Kraiyoonsane.
The studio also had outdoor showings of its films.
Strawberry fields forever…
Balloonists from all over the
world take part in this annual event.
The invisible man? Or just a
really, really big pair of Levis?
Fireworks and beautifully lit
balloons make for an awesome sight.
Many balloons light up the
night sky, a spectacular sight and one which many consider to be the
highlight of the event.
Scuba instructor takes different leap into blue yonder
Sally Rathbone and Bob
James
Normally accustomed to diving underwater, scuba instructor Sally
Rathbone decided to try the “other” diving and volunteered to throw herself
out of an airplane owned by Sriracha-based Thai Sky Adventures.
 Frank
Volkmar teaches Sally the proper landing position.
Managed by American Wayne Edmisten and Englishman Harry Hongjindapong, who
have a combined 45 years of skydiving experience, Thai Sky Adventures opened
in Ao Udom in November with a sales office in Pattaya.
“I have wanted to skydive for years and was excited when I arrived at the
center at 9 a.m. and met my instructor, Frank Volkmar,” said the diminutive
27-year-old Englishwoman, who normally spends her days as an IDC Staff
Instructor for Aquanauts Dive Centre on Soi 6 and Beach Road. “He was
friendly and professional and immediately removed any trace of nerves about
throwing myself out of a plane 13,000 feet in the air.”
 Strapping
in, getting ready for the jump.
“He gave me a thorough briefing about my body positioning when exiting the
plane, during freefall and for landing. After that we geared up and headed
off to the airstrip where a small plane was waiting. Along with us was
Scotsman Dave Burnett, who was completing his first assisted solo dive for
his Accelerated Free Fall course, which will qualify him to do solo dives.
“As we ascended I looked down at the view and felt mainly excitement with a
few underlying nerves. Frank firmly secured my harness to his and, after
watching Dave jump with his two jumpmasters, we moved to the edge of the
plane with the videographer. Before I knew it we were falling fast through
the air and I was enjoying every second!
“I expected to feel fear in the free fall period of the dive, but it was the
best part. All your natural instincts are still telling you to stay alert
since it is hard-wired into your head. But your brain just starts watching
and enjoying what is happening. It is the most peaceful you can ever feel
while still having an adrenaline rush. It’s scared, excited, and calm, all
at the same time.
Nervous? Who me?
“I expected to see the ground rushing towards us, but because of the height
it barely feels like you are falling. When Frank opened the parachute at
5,500 ft. the deafening sound of the wind suddenly disappeared to leave
behind complete peace and silence. As we glided in, we had a great view of
the area and Frank allowed to try steering the parachute before landing
smoothly at the drop zone. What an amazing experience and one to definitely
be repeated!” Thai Sky Adventures is located 19 km from Pattaya just off the
main Bangkok-to-Pattaya highway. The company provides transport from your
accommodations to the drop zone or offers car and motorcycle rental, if
required. For more information contact 085 900-3412 or online at www.
thaiskyadventures.com.
Our “chariot” arrives.
Ready … Jump!
This is great!
Hamming it up for the TV cameras.
Where did they go? That was fast…
A
perfect landing.
Intercity meeting brings Christmas
cheer to Rotarians and their loved ones
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Martin Brands shared
his profound knowledge of the Rotary Foundation with his colleagues. |
Assistant Governor Jan
Abbink conveys the message from the District Governor. |
Elfi Seitz
Members of Pattaya’s many Rotary Clubs met for a unique intercity
meeting and, for the first time, jointly attended a lavish early Christmas
party at the Amari Orchid Resort.
 Past
President Alvi Sinthuvanik of the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya is
recognized for her dedicated service to Rotary.
Bob Denzel, president of the Rotary Club of Taksin-Pattaya, organized the
November 29 event and presided over the meeting. Assistant Governor Jan
Abbink represented District Governor Siri Eiemchamroonlarp at the seminar
which featured Charter-President Martin Brands and Past District Governor
Premprecha Dibbayawan as guest speakers.
CP Brands talked about the importance of the Rotary Foundation and said that
through contributions to this foundation the clubs will receive considerable
financial grants for their various humanitarian projects.
 President
Bob Denzel of the Rotary Club of Taksin Pattaya is interviewed by Elfi Seitz
of PMTV and honorary member of two Rotary clubs.
PDG Premprecha pointed out the importance of Rotary globally and talked
about the history of Rotary and shared his wisdom with the audience.
Rotarians from as far as Holland also attended this seminar.
The annual Christmas party attended by over a hundred people was a welcome
affair after a hard day at the Rotary office.
Singing and laughter filled the air as Santa brought presents for thirty
eight lucky winners of the draw prizes.
Ladies of Rotary are thanked
for their loyal support of Rotary events.
Rotary Christmas market, ‘cog’ project raise funds for poor
Shopping for charity at the annual Christkindl market
Sue K
This year’s Christmas market, organized by the Rotary Club of the
Eastern Seaboard at the Marriott Resort & Spa, once again proved a big
success.
 President
Peter Schlageter (left) of the Rotary Club Eastern Seaboard and Pratheep S.
Malhotra (Peter), Immediate Past District Governor preside over the opening
ceremony of the Christkindl Markt.
Past District Governor 2008-2009 Pratheep Malhotra and RCES President Peter
Schlageter cut the ribbon to open the Dec. 6 event.
This year’s event was more popular than ever with 38 tables selling
Christmas items, gifts and decorations, food, wine, furniture, carpets,
jewelry and bakery items.
Raffle tickets costing 20 baht each were quickly sold out with many
desirable prizes supplied by the Rotary Club and sponsors. Some 360 glasses
of champagne were sold and merrily consumed.
 Past
Assistant Governor Sefan Ryser’s champagne bar proved a very popular
watering hole. Many were seen to have been wheel-barrowed out of the
premises late afternoon.
The Christkindl Market is held yearly in early December to give people in
the community a chance for some early Christmas shopping and to get into the
Christmas spirit with the joy of giving to help underprivileged Thai
children get clean drinking water and sanitation.
The event also saw the launch of the “Bring Me Sunshine’’ Rotary Cog Fund.
The project focuses on helping people build a school, install water filters
to prevent illness and provide meals to children. With just as little as
1,000 baht per month you can sponsor a child to help him or her to live a
better life.
David Collier, owner of the Canterbury Tales bookshop and cafe signed up and
became the First Rotary Cog, having pledged 1,000 baht a month,
index-linked, for his lifetime to help the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya
support underprivileged children.
To join the program, call David Macready 085-885-3625 or e-mail ppmacready@
gmail.com. To be involved in next year’s market, contact Marianne Buesch at
089-545-1490.
David Collier (2nd left),
proprietor of Canterbury Tales bookshop and cafe, accepts a magnum of Moet &
Chandon champagne from David Macready, the Christmas Fairy, in recognition
of his being the First Rotary Cog, having pledged to pay 1,000 baht a month,
index-linked, for his lifetime to help the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya
support underprivileged children.
Everything from fine wine to
furniture was on sale at the charity market.
A Taste of Manhattans
Or Hugh’s Swansong
Dr. Iain Corness
The last Chaine des Rotisseurs dinner for 2009 was held at the
Manhattans Restaurant and Bar, in the ground floor of Nirvana Place and was
Hugh Millar’s (the Charge de Mission) last official duty after six years.
Whilst there was more than a tinge of sadness, several glasses of wine
helped alleviate the pain!
 Bailli
Ranjith Chandrasiri (right) presents a parting gift and says a big thank you
to Hugh Millar for his years of devotion as Charge de Mission.
The reception before the dinner was held in the Manhattans luxurious
cocktail area with its comfortable chairs and thick pile carpet. They also
served a mean Midori Sour. A great start to the evening. New General Manager
Jean Yves Fraiche was also in attendance, introducing himself to the Chaine
members.
After cocktails it was into the restaurant proper, well known to most
members of La Chaine, who have made Manhattans one of their chosen
restaurants for private dining.
 Ranjith
Chandrasiri (left) and Alan Sherratt (right) admire the presentation of
glassware.
After being addressed by the Bailli (president) Ranjith Chandrasiri, who
gave a run-down on the events which had taken place in 2009, Hugh Millar
spoke on the various wines and the dinner courses that they would accompany
under the direction of Manhattans chef Steve Manning.
All Chaine dinners are required to have one roasted meat dish, this being
the origins of the Chaine in 1248 A.D. For this dinner it was a Wagyu steak
tenderloin with a very interesting smoked parsnip mash, served with glazed
beetroot and a Madeira sauce.
 Staff
brings in the heavy trays laden with delicious food.
There were two dessert wines at the end of the dinner, one with a tartlet of
blue cheese with a sweet wine to offset the cheese, and the second being a
wonderful red berry compote taken with a very young Thai Monsoon Valley
Muscat.
Certificates of appreciation were given to the service and kitchen staff,
after which most members and guests mingled again and once more gave their
thanks to Hugh Millar for his great job as the Charge de Mission over so
many years.
For those who would like to join this gourmet group, unfortunately at this
stage, there are no further vacancies for the Baillage de Pattaya until
after the Intronisation ceremony which will be held at the Royal Cliff Beach
Resort on Jan 9 next year. You may contact the Bailli, Ranjith Chandrasiri,
on ranjith@ royalcliff.com.
Another course arrives to the
satisfaction of Chaine members.
The expert staff attends to
every need.
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